Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against an accountability court’s orders to appear in person and issuing displaying notices as part of the process to declare him an absconder, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The accountability court had issued these orders in the Toshakhana (Treasure House) reference in which Nawaz and former president Asif Ali Zardari are among the accused.

In the petition, it is argued that the National Accountability Court (NAB) is harassing and targeting Nawaz and his family without any reason. Through an ad, the accountability court has given him the last chance to appear in person on August 17 after which he would be declared an absconder.

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Requesting the IHC to declare the accountability court’s orders null and void, the petition says the NAB wants to silence the opposition by targeting them.

Nawaz also argued through the petition that the European Union and the Human Rights Watch have already described the actions taken by NAB as baseless and illegal.

It is also made clear in the petition that Nawaz isn’t an absconder and had left the country for medical treatment after obtaining bail from a court.

Therefore, the petitioner says, he should be allowed to face the trial through his legal counsel as he is out of the country because of the fact that his treatment is still in progress.

Last month, a notice was displayed at Jati Umra and Model Town residences of Nawaz, directing him to appear before it on Aug 17 in the Toshakhana reference.

Earlier, Former president Asif Ali Zardari had requested the accountability court to direct the authorities concerned for making video link arrangements to ensure his presence in the Toshakhana reference proceedings considering his old age, ailment and vulnerability to coronavirus.

The accountability court had issued non-bailable warrants for Nawaz who along with Zardari are accused of obtaining cars from Toshakhana by paying 15 percent of the price with the help of the then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

The NAB has alleged in the reference that Gilani had facilitated Nawaz and Zardari in the process.